YEREVAN. - One shouldn’t think that Armenia’s economy can always capitalize on the effect of sanctions, economist Ashot Yeghiazaryan told Armenian News – NEWS.am today.

Export from Armenia to Russia reached $300 mln in 2014, mainly at the expense of agricultural products and their processings (almost half of the export included brandy, the rest including fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as canned food). “This can be considered as the limit for Armenia’s agriculture,” he said.

“We don’t have a reliable transportation link with Russia. Our railway is uncompetitive and Upper Lars checkpoint is closed from time to time,” the expert said.

According to Yeghiazaryan, the growth of export is also impeded by the reduction of the purchasing power of Russian consumers due to the ruble rate fall.